TED演讲:食物是如何影响大脑的(2)

 　　Like the other organs in our bodies, our brains also benefit from a steady supply of micronutrients. 像我们身体中的其他器官一样，稳定供给微量营养元素也会有益大脑。

　　Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables strengthen the brain to fight off free radicals³ that destroy brain cells,  水果和蔬菜中的抗氧化剂能加强脑部抗击自由基的能力，防止脑细胞受损，

　　enabling your brain to work well for a longer period of time. 从而使大脑能良好运作更长的时间。

　　And without powerful micronutrients, like the vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid, 如果没有这些强大的微量营养元素，如维他命B6及叶酸，

　　our brains would be susceptible⁴ to brain disease and mental decline. 我们会易出现脑部疾病和智力下降的病症。

　　Trace amounts of the minerals iron, copper⁵, zinc⁶, and sodium⁷ are also fundamental to brain health and early cognitive⁸ development. 微量的矿物铁、铜、锌、钠，也是大脑健康和早期认知发展所需的基本元素。

　　In order for the brain to efficiently⁹ transform and synthesize these valuable nutrients², it needs fuel, and lots of it. 为了使大脑能更有效地转化和合成这些重要的营养物质，大脑需要大量的能量。

　　While the human brain only makes up about 2% of our body weight, it uses up to 20% of our energy resources. 尽管人类大脑只占到体重的2%，但它却消耗了超过20%的能量。

　　Most of this energy comes from carbohydrates¹⁰ that our body digests into glucose¹¹, or blood sugar. 大多数的能量来自于碳水化合物，我们的身体将这些碳水化合物消化成葡萄糖或者血糖。

　　The frontal lobes¹² are so sensitive to drops in glucose, 大脑前庭对葡萄糖供给下降十分敏感，

　　in fact, that a change in mental function is one of the primary signals of nutrient¹ deficiency. 实际上，心智功能产生的变化就是营养不足的一个重要信号。

　　Assuming that we are getting glucose regularly, how does the specific type of carbohydrates we eat affect our brains? 假设我们能不断获取葡萄糖，那么我们食用特定种类的碳水化合物是如何影响我们的大脑的呢？

　　Carbs come in three forms: starch¹³, sugar, and fiber¹⁴. 碳水化合物有三种形式：淀粉，糖类，和纤维素。

　　While on most nutrition labels, they are all lumped into one total carb count, 尽管在大多数营养成分表中它们都计入在碳水化合物的含量中，

　　the ratio of the sugar and fiber subgroups to the whole amount affect how the body and brain respond. 糖类和纤维素各自在总量中所占的比例会影响我们身体和大脑的反应。

　　A high glycemic food, like white bread, causes a rapid release of glucose into the blood, and then comes the dip. 高血糖食物，如白面包会迅速释放大量葡萄糖进入血液中，之后血糖含量又迅速下降。

　　Blood sugar shoots down, and with it, our attention span and mood. 当血糖含量降低时，我们的注意力和情绪也随之下降。

　　On the other hand, oats, grains, and legumes have slower glucose release, enabling a steadier level of attentiveness¹⁵. 另一方面，燕麦、谷物和豆类释放葡萄糖较为缓慢，能使注意力保持得更稳定。

　　For sustained brain power, opting¹⁶ for a varied¹⁷ diet of nutrient-rich foods is critical. 为了让脑力可持续使用，选择饮食多样化是至关重要的。

　　When it comes to what you bite, chew, and swallow, 涉及到你要吃、要咀嚼的和要吞咽的食物时，

　　your choices have a direct and long-lasting effect on the most powerful organ in your body. 你的选择会直接并长久地影响到你身体中最强大的器官。

1 nutrient   

adj.营养的，滋养的；n.营养物，营养品

参考例句：

• Magnesium is the nutrient element in plant growth.镁是植物生长的营养要素。
• The roots transmit moisture and nutrient to the trunk and branches.根将水分和养料输送到干和枝。

2 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 radicals   

n.激进分子( radical的名词复数 )；根基；基本原理；[数学]根数

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals. 一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The worry is that the radicals will grow more intransigent. 现在人们担忧激进分子会变得更加不妥协。 来自辞典例句

4 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

5 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

6 zinc   

n.锌；vt.在...上镀锌

参考例句：

• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
• Zinc is used to protect other metals from corrosion.锌被用来保护其他金属不受腐蚀。

7 sodium   

n.（化）钠

参考例句：

• Out over the town the sodium lights were lit.在外面，全城的钠光灯都亮了。
• Common salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine.食盐是钠和氯的复合物。

8 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

9 efficiently   

adv.高效率地，有能力地

参考例句：

• The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
• Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。

10 carbohydrates   

n.碳水化合物，糖类( carbohydrate的名词复数 )；淀粉质或糖类食物

参考例句：

• The plant uses the carbohydrates to make cellulose. 植物用碳水化合物制造纤维素。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All carbohydrates originate from plants. 所有的碳水化合物均来自植物。 来自辞典例句

11 glucose   

n.葡萄糖

参考例句：

• I gave him an extra dose of glucose to pep him up.我给他多注射了一剂葡萄糖以增强他的活力。
• The doctor injected glucose into his patient's veins.医生将葡萄糖注入病人的静脉。

12 lobes   

n.耳垂( lobe的名词复数 )；（器官的）叶；肺叶；脑叶

参考例句：

• The rotor has recesses in its three faces between the lobes. 转子在其凸角之间的三个面上有凹槽。 来自辞典例句
• The chalazal parts of the endosperm containing free nuclei forms several lobes. 包含游离核的合点端胚乳部分形成几个裂片。 来自辞典例句

13 starch   

n.淀粉；vt.给...上浆

参考例句：

• Corn starch is used as a thickener in stews.玉米淀粉在炖煮菜肴中被用作增稠剂。
• I think there's too much starch in their diet.我看是他们的饮食里淀粉太多了。

14 fiber   

n.纤维，纤维质

参考例句：

• The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。
• The material must be free of fiber clumps.这种材料必须无纤维块。

15 attentiveness   

[医]注意

参考例句：

• They all helped one another with humourous attentiveness. 他们带着近于滑稽的殷勤互相周旋。 来自辞典例句
• Is not attentiveness the nature of, even the function of, Conscious? 专注不正是大我意识的本质甚或活动吗？ 来自互联网

16 opting   

v.选择，挑选( opt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• What courses are most students opting for? 多数学生选什么课程？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Wells doesn't rule out opting out and then re-signing with Houston. 威尔斯没有排除跳出合同再与火箭重签的可能。 来自互联网

17 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。